Diverse group tasked with updating Indiana's state election plan will reconvene Friday; Meeting is open to the public and accessible via Webcast

(Indianapolis) – Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita will preside over the first in a series of 2009 meetings of the Vote Indiana Team (VIT) this Friday, March 27, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. The group of government and community leaders is being reconvened to evaluate and update Indiana's State Plan to Implement the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (State Plan). Vote Indiana Team meetings are open to the public and accessible online via a Web cast found at www.in.gov/sos.

Originally written in 2003 to serve as a blueprint for Indiana's implementation of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), the State Plan is drafted and updated by a tri-partisan team formed to represent a wide range of stakeholder groups. The team includes state and county election administrators, representatives of racial and ethnic minority communities, persons with disabilities, the state Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican parties, state legislators, the Governor's office, the military, labor unions, students and the media.

"While we have already experienced tremendous reform in our elections in Indiana in recent years, the most since the Voting Rights Act of 1965, it is important to continue to evaluate our process to make sure it is as fair and accurate as possible," said Secretary Rokita. "Bringing this diverse, tri-partisan team to the table to conduct a comprehensive evaluation will ensure our State Plan is up-to-date and that Indiana continues to have best-in-class elections. I urge Hoosiers to participate in this process by attending the meeting or watching it online, and to provide feedback on our election process."

Event:

Vote Indiana Team meeting

When:

Friday, March 27, 2009, 1:30 p.m.

Where:

Indiana Government Center Conference Center

Room C (402 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis)

At this week's initial 2009 meeting, the Vote Indiana Team will hear updates on the state's implementation of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 including its impact on recent elections.

Members of the Vote Indiana Team for 2009 are:

Hon. Todd Rokita

Indiana Secretary of State (Chair)

Rep. Kreg Battles

Indiana House of Representatives

Tonee Bell

African-American community representative

Amos Brown

African-American community and media representative

Dee Ann Hart

Representative of persons with disabilities

Eric Holcomb

Office of the Governor

Kathy Hopf

Dubois Circuit Court Clerk

J. Bradley King

Co-Director, Indiana Election Division

Sen. Sue Landske

Indiana State Senate

Sally LaSota

Lake County Election Board member

Sen. Frank Mrvan

Indiana State Senate

Kevin Ober

Indiana Republican Party representative

Linda Phillips

Tippecanoe Circuit Court Clerk

Pamela Potesta

Co-Director, Indiana Election Division

Rep. Kathy Richardson

Indiana House of Representatives

John Rudesill

Spencer County Elections Director

Tony Santana

Hispanic community representative

Evan Shearin (US Navy, Reserve)

Military representative

Kaylee Showers

Student representative

John Sorenson

Labor representative

Chris Spangle

Indiana Libertarian Party representative

Cindy Spence

Hendricks Circuit Court Clerk

TBD

Association of Indiana Counties

Jennifer Wagner

Indiana Democratic Party representative

Beth White

Marion County Circuit Court Clerk

In addition to hosting Friday's Web cast, the Secretary of State's Web site, www.in.gov/sos, will provide up-to-date information on progress of the Vote Indiana Team through the spring.